Pro Tour–San Diego Finals: This Is It

Josh BennettSunday, February 21, 2010

Kyle Boggemes (Jund) vs. Simon Görtzen (Jund)

After clawing their way through a varied Top 8, both America’s Kyle Boggemes and Simon Görtzen of Germany had their faith in Bloodbraid Elf validated. Soon one of them would hoist the trophy as Pro Tour–San Diego Champion.

Game 1

Kyle Boggemes keeps the U.S. in this Top 8.

Boggemes had to mulligan, and his next six were unspectactular. While Görtzen played a Savage Lands, Forest, and Mountain for Sprouting Thrinax right on time, Boggemes stumbled with two Raging Ravines and a Rootbound Crag. Görtzen added a second Thrinax to the mix and hit for 3. Turn four came with no help for Boggemes and he had to pass on his three lands.

Görtzen meanwhile had Garruk Wildspeaker and set up a lethal Overrun for the following turn. Boggemes drew his card and didn’t bother prolonging the inevitable.

Görtzen untapped and replaced it, tapping his other and a Swamp for Putrid Leech. Boggemes played a land and tapped four for Bloodbraid Elf, hitting another Ruinblaster and kicking it, knocking off another Ravine. Görtzen played Savage Lands and stayed on the defensive.

Boggemes showed him Ruinblaster number three, offing the Savage Lands. He turned all his men sideways. Görtzen put the Stag in front of one of the Ruinblasters and stopped the Elf his Putrid Leech, pumping it to survive. Görtzen fell to 11.

Görtzen was first on the board with a third-turn Thrinax. Boggemes drew for his third turn and grimaced. He was stuck on two lands, and wound up discarding Garruk. Görtzen piled on with a second Thrinax.

Boggemes’s deck finally yielded a Verdant Catacombs. He fetched a Swamp and made a Thrinax of his own. Görtzen wasted no time Bolting it and swinging in. Boggemes tripled up to take down one of the Thrinaxes, and his tokens changed sides. Görtzen played a Great Sable Stag.

Boggemes found no fourth land and ran out another Thrinax. Görtzen charged in with his team, and a post-combat Blightning earned the scoop.

Görtzen drew Swamp, still no help. He sat back on his mana. Boggemes played a land and another Sprouting Thrinax. Now they were both playing off the top. Görtzen got a Great Sable Stag. Boggemes got a Bloodbraid Elf but only cascaded into a blank Mind Rot. His monsters charged. A Stag traded with the the Bloodbraid Elf and the other ate a Saproling, and Görtzen fell to 5.

Boggemes untapped and played his fifth land. He tapped them all and leveled Bituminous Blast at the Leech. He flipped the first card: Bloodbraid Elf. He eagerly flipped again. This time the first card was Sprouting Thrinax. Gortezen thought hard at end of turn, and chose to off the Elf with Lightning Bolt.

The armies of Jund clash on the battlefield.

Görtzen untapped and offered Boggemes a trade of Thrinaxes. Boggemes accepted. Görtzen doubled his token count with the help of Siege-Gang Commander. Boggemes answered with Garruk Wildspeaker, making a Beast, and Bolted the Siege-Gang Commander. Görtzen Bolted the beast token, then attacked Boggemes with his tokens, trading Goblins for Saprolings.